Seamless knitted stocking



June12,1945. c. w. h AlNTON 2,378,317

SEAMLESS KNITTED STOCKING I Filed Oct. 2, 1942 '1 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NV moz'. arznce l/L/ M10 0/7.

ATTORNEYS.

June 12, 1945. I c w MINTON 2,378,317

SEAMLESS KNITTED STOCKING Filed 001:. 2, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORL #afon.

I C/zren ce W June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON 2,378,317

SEAMLESS KNITTED STOCKING Fi 1ed.0c t. 2, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR C/arenca WM/n fan.

da %1 V E ATTORNEYS. i

June 12, 1945. c. w. MINTON' SBAMLESS KNITTED swocxme Filed 001:. 2, 1942 I v Sheets-Sheet 6 Q I INVENTOR. C/areqce 14 M 70/9.

ATTORNEYS.

June 12, 1945. c, w, MINTON SEAMLESS KNITTED STOCKING Filed 001:. 2.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 .fifglO.

. JNVENTOR. C/areace 14/ M10 fan,

' ATTQRNEY6.

Patented June 12, 1945 SEAMLESS KNITTED STOCKING Clarence W. Minton, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to Hold Stitch Fabric Machine Company, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application October 2, 1,942, Serial-No. 460,568

20mins, (01. 66-173) This invention relates to a seamless knitted stocking and method of producing the same:

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a seamless knitted stocking having a mesh or open work type of leg of such nature that the stocking can be economicallyproduced of cheaper grade yarn than silk and nylon.:

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during'the course of the 1 following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a left handed side elevationof the improved knitting machine.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary right handed side elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of the improved knitting machine, showing the operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a developed view of the needle and jack arrangement of the knitting machine.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the knitting machine.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of ajack actuat- Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing the hem and upper leg construction of'a stocking knitted upon the improved machine.

- Figure 11 is an *enlargedview showing the welt e 9 shows a different position of. the

It is to be understood, however, that-the features of this invention are applicable to any type of circular knitting machine.

The frame B has a supporting bed 20 upon which the cylinder C is rotatably mounted in well known manner. Means for rotating and oscillating the cylinder C are-of any approved type and will not be described herein, other than to refer to them as the means D. This means D includes as one of the parts thereof a conventional 10 gear designated at 23 in Figure 2 of the drawings and elsewhere.

The machine furthermore includes a shaft 24 having right and left drums K and L thereon for controlling certain levers to be subsequently described. At the rear of the machine there is provided a conventional shaft 26 which has a horizontal striper drum M thereon for a purpose to be subsequently described.

Upon the bed 20 ofjthe machine there is disposed a plunger cam block 30 having a plurality of plunger cams 3|, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31, 38, 39, 40; 4|, and 42 therein adapted to operate upon the butts of the set of Jacks F, at different levels, for performing certain operations, tobe subsequently described in detailing the cycle of operation of the improved machine.

The cams 3I-42 are-provided with individual springs 43 normally urging thecams inward into butt obstructionwith the Jacks. These plunger cams 3l-42 are actuated by means of individual levers 44 pivoted upon a supporting post 45 by a shaft 46. This is shown in Figure 4 of the drawand leg stitch arrangement of the improved stocking.

Figure 12 is a side elevation. ofthe-lever nor-- ment of the invention, the letter A may gener ally designate the improved knitting machine which may include a frame structure '3, cylinder C, means!) to operate the cylinder; 'a set of nee- -dles E and a set of jacks'F. An improved fabric H has been shown in Figures 10, ,11- and 12 of the drawings, but it is to be understood that a wide variety of designs of fabric may be knitted upon the improved machine.

The knitting machine generally partakes of certain characteristics of the Banner type of .knitting machine disclosed in U S. Patent 933,443.

ings, and there the levers 44 are shown as having reduced ends operating in sockets 41 of the individual plunger cams. The levers 44 are controlled oif of an intermittently operated dmm 41 rotatably mounted upon shaft 48. The levers -44 may be moved for withdrawing the plungers 3l-42 against their normal spring action so that they will be out of the path of the Jack butts.

In Figure 4 it is shown that the levers 44. are provided with end extensions 49 adapted to be engaged by certain detachable projections or pins or other means 50- placed upon the drum 41 in a selected arrangement. It is to be noted that the drum 41 is provided with these ins in position to only operate'itwo ofthe j'a kplunger cams. The drum may be provided with any suitable means, such as screw threaded openings for I receiving the detachable lever operating, studs or pins 50 in any positionaround the circumference thereof for each one of the camv plunger operating members 44.

.The means for intermittent rotation of the drum- 4! is shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9 of the drawings. This drum is provided with a ratchet 55 controlled by means of a pawl 56 pivoted at 51 upon a lever extension 60. The latter is mounted upon a disc GI oscillatable upon the shaft 48 as an axis. A spring 62 normally holds the pawl in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 55, as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. The extension 80 has a connecting rod 83 which is pivoted at 64, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of'the drawings upon the upper end of a lever 85. The latter is pivoted at 66 upon the frame of the machine and is in position to be operated by means of studs 81 and positioned upon the "104 wheel 23. The studs 67 and 82, for this particular set-up, 'are positioned at 90 apart upon the wheel 23, so that the drum 4'! is advanced twotooth notches of the pawl wheel for each full rotation of the 104" wheel 23. The

104- wheel rotates once for each four revolu tions of the knitting machine cylinder, as is well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

The means for throwing the pawl 56 out of action consists of a cam extension ll mounted upon a disc 'II freely rotatable upon the shaft of the drum. .This disc'lI has a connecting rod 12, shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, pivoted at its rear end at 12 to a bell crank lever 14. The latter is pivoted upon the shaft Iii above described, and the bell crank lever is operated by means of a connecting rod 11 off of a lever 18.-

The latter is pivoted at 19 andv operated by a cam arrangement upon the drum K 4 As shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, screws. 80 are provided on the post on which the levers are mounted, for each one of these levers, for the purpose of blocking out any of th individual cams 3I-42.

' In addition, means is provided for simultane-. ously throwing the entire set of cams in the block 30' out of, action. This means consists of a lever 82 pivoted at the bottom of the pcst45, upon the pin 46 having its forward end extending laterally of the levers 4,4 and there provided with a vertically disposed rod or member 85, shown best in Figures 4 and 7' of the drawings. The rod I! is supported at its upper end upon a lever 90 pivoted upon the pin 46. Movement of the lever 82 will move the rod 88 against the forward ends of the levers 44 and by pressing thereasainst the cams "-42 not already blocked out by the screws 88 can be thrown out of action.

The lever 82 has a connecting rod 89, shown best in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings pivoted rearwardly upon a bell crank lever 9.0. u

is pivoted at 9| and its opposite end has a con- The latter It is contemplated that certain of the levers need not be operated oil! of the drum 41. To that end certain of these levers 44 may have extensions 9', as shown in Flgure4 to which rods or wires may be connected. The latter at their rear ends may be pivoted to certain bell crank levers I]. These bell crank levers may be mounted upon'aiblock at an axis II and they are operfingers III, shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. These fingers or members IOI are operated off of the horizontal striper drum M above mentioned.

Certain others oi the levers 44 are adapted to be operated oil of the cam drum K at the right hand side of the machine. To that. end, such levers 44 as are operated oil of the drum K, may be provided with pivoted lever exte ions I05. They have connecting rods Hi8, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, pivoted in turn to the upper ends of certain bell crank levers I09, shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings. The opposite ends of such bell crank levers I09 are connected by means of rods III! with certain levers Iii pivoted on the shaft I9 and operating oii of the drum K.

The knitting machine may be provided with a conventional main yarn feeding set-up and also an auxiliary yarn feeding set-up for the purpose of accomplishing diiferent varieties of work. In the particular example of this application, the main feed knitting station may be provided with one or. more yarn feed fingers I20, shown in Fig ure 5 of the drawings, and at the auxiliary feed station one or more yarn feed fingers I2l may be provided, This yarn feed finger I2I in the example of fabric shown inv this application, is intended merelyto supply yarn for the knittin of a mock seam in the stocking.

At the auxiliary feeding station of the knitting machine, as shown in Figur 's 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, a cam-plunger block I23 is provided, having plunger cams I24 and I25 slidably mounted therein and normally spring urged at I28, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, into butt actuating position with the jacks of the cylinder. Levers I21 are pivoted at I28 uponthe machine and by means of rods I29 operated off of certain levers Ill pivoted on the pin 94, and operating off of the drum L above described.

While the machine of the present application hasbeen shown asset up for the knitting of the type of fabric H shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 6f the drawings, it is to be understood that thru different cam and lever control, the machine may knit other types of fabric than that disclosed. Indeed such types of'fabric have been shown and described in my co-pending applications Serial Number 416,746 filed October 27, 194i, and serial Number 454,596, filed August 12, 1942. In the particular type of fabric H-the leg is mesh knitted in a distinctive novel relation. This tabric H is a seamless knitted fabric having a, welt portion "0, the walelines of which are knitted upon every needle of the set E. The leg portion I" is a tuck stitch mesh, and during the knitting thereof, alternate needles of the knittin machine are entirelyinactive. The leg is provided with a mock seam I52, and the high splice I53, heel Ill, sole I65 and remainder of the stocking are knitted in a relation to be subsequently described, upon all of the needles of the knitting machine.

In order to understand the complete cycle of operation of the knitting machine, it should be here mentioned that for the knitting of the mesh leg only alternate needles of the machine are operating. For'one course in the knitting of the leg, all of these alternate needles receive yarn in orderto knit stitches. For the next three courses, only half of these alternate needles (the alternate ones) receive yarn and ,knit the same into stitche -Land the remaining needles (normally ated by means of rods I09 pivoted upon certain 7 active during knitting of the leg), receive float scribed. Ordinarily thisv would throw all of the levers 44 out of action, but one of these levers portions of the yarn in the hooks thereof which are not cast off until stitches are knitted thereon in the fifth course, where again all of the needles tion of the lever 82.

which controls the cam 40 has a cut-out portion (not shown) andis not affected by opera- This cam- 40 remains in position to engage the butts I18 of the jacks I11. The stitches held on the needles controlled by 'the earns 33 and 34 are of course held on '1 theseneedles while they are inoperative durknitting receive the float portions of the yarn,

which are cast oil in the next course (after the knitting of three courses). This produces a diamond-shapecr mesh design with coursewise ofiset tuck stitches in adjacent wales.-

Referring now to the cycle of operation for the knitting of the fabric H.

The set of needles E are .dividedinto a section thereof having long butts I10 and a section having short butts I1I. The long butts are .designated in full black in the developed view of Figure 5 and of course the needles are of the independent latch type.

The jacks are housed in the cylinder grooves, in conventional manner beneath the needles, and they have butts thereon at the difierent levels of the cams 3I-42.

Not all of the cams 3I-42 are used in this setup and only those that are will be mentioned.

During knitting of the welt all of the needles of the set E are utilized for knitting yarn. The needles are elevated in advance of the yarn feed finger I by means of plunger cams 33, 34 and g 40. In the line of the cam 33 every fourth jack of the entire jack set-up F is provided with a long butt I15. Between adjacent jacks having butts I15 there are three jacks, andthe center- 'most of each of these threejacks has a butt I16 in the line of the cam 34. The other two jacks. I11 each have a short butt I18 in the path of the plunger .cam 40. Thus, when the earns 33, 34 and 40 are in position to engage the butts I15, I16 and I18, all of the jacks of the machine will be elevated to elevate all of the needles of the machine so that all of said needles will take yarn from the feed finger I20 in advance of the stitch cam. Thus, all of the needles of the machine are properly actuated by this cam arrangement to receive yarn for knitting the welt I50.

A hold stitch cam I80, shown in. Figure 5'of thedrawings, is slidably mounted upon a block on. the frame of the machine and-normally spring actuated into the path of the needle butts. This cam I80 is controlled thru leverage I8 I on of the drum L, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

During knitting of the welt'this cam I80. is in position touengage the butts of the needles, and cams I00 and I9I, which operate. together oif of conventional operating mechanism ISI are out of action. It is readily understandable ing the knitting of 'a welt lock extension 200, designated in Figure 10 of the drawings. This lock extension is knitted for twelve courses on every other needle of the set E, by reason of actuation off the cam 40. Of course, during this operation the' hold stitch cam I80 is still in position to lower the needles for hold stitch purposes.'

' At the end of the twelfth. course for the knit- I ting of the lock extension 200, cam 40 is thrown out of action by reason of the actuation of this cam off of one of the levers I05-I06 I09- IIO-I I I; this leverage and linkage mechanism being of course operated oil the drum K.

Cams 33 and 34 are now, thrown into action thru release of the lever 82 operating off its linkage from the drum L The plunger cam I24 is thrown into jack butt operating position as controlled off of the drum It This cam I24 is now drawn into the path of the butts I18 on the jacks I11 so that the stitches hung on the hooks of the needles controlled by these jacks I11 will pass beneath the latches of the needles. The cam 2I I, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings,

and which is stationary, will lower the needles subsequent to the cam I24 for casting off the stitches from the needles I11.

As above mentioned, cams 33 and 34 fat the completion of the welt lock extension 200 are brought into action to elevate alternate needles ofthe'knitting machine. The yarn is knitted for four courses on these alternate needles to produce the area designated at 2I5 in Figure 11 of yarn at the auxiliary feed station from the finthe drawings, and at the end of .the fourth course the cam' I24 is withdrawn and cam I25 is drawn into action against the butts of three jacks designatedat 220 in Figure 5 of the drawings. These three jacks at the area 220 are provided with butts -22I at a level in the path of the cam I25 and are elevated by this cam I25 to take ger I2I. This yarn knits a mock seam in the seamless stocking. The needles in this area 220 which take the mock seainyarn have their that the cams 33, 34 and 40 will elevate all ofp of action byfreason of operation of the lever 82 on of the drum L in the manner above deure 10 of the drawings. At the end of the knit ting of the'welt, cams 33 and 34 are thrown'out jacks provided with long butts 225 in the path of the plunger cam 3|. At the same time that the cam I25 moves into action for the production of the mock scam, the cam 3| is thrown into action with the butts 225 for the purpose of elevating the three needles controlled by these Jacks in the area 220, in order to cast the mock seam. stitches produced by the yarn from finger I2I beneath the latches of these needles. This cam 3| is controlled by a lever 82 to regulate the degree of movement so that only the long butts 225 will be operated upon. Movement of this lever 82 will not interfere with operationofthe cams '33 and 34 because the butts of the jacks which are in the path of the earns 33 land 34 are all long butts and the cams 33 and 34 are not sufficiently retracted to avoid these. butts. These cams I25 and 3I remain ducea mock seam in the. leg of the stocking.

in during the entire knitting of the leg to pro-- thruout the length thereof.

At this point earns 33 and 34 are alternately thrown into and out of action at every fourth course for the production 01' the mesh type knitted fabric on the alternate needles of the knitting machine which are active during normal knitting oi the leg. 1 I

' While the cams 33 and 34 are alternately in action to elevate every'i'ourth Jack and likewise elevate every fourth needle to receive yam at.

the main teed station, from the yarn finger I23, it should be noted that each or these cams, so long as it is in action, also operates the other needles which are active during normal leg knitting; but only elevate them to a height where the yarn oi the main ieed station is taken by the latter needles without casting the stitch beneath the latches of said needles,'so that the yarn is floated upon these needles for three courses and not cast oil until there is a reversal in position of the cams 33 and 34. Thus, while the cam 33 is in position to operate on the butts I'll for asva'srr nate active ne es during the knitting or the leg, represented by the needles 23! and 232 shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, to the knitting position and one complete course is plain knitted upon the iabric. The pin '33 (I the 104 gear then moves the drum 41 and takes the cam 34 out of position and drops in the cam 33. The latter receives the butts I13 or the jacks to elevate the 1 needles 333 to the tucking positionshown in Figactive during knitting of the leg and that these elevating the jacks having said butts and the needles thereabove for. producing stitches; this cam 33 at the same time will engage long butts ,230 of the jacks which are normally controlled by the cam 34 for producing knitting, and will also elevate these Jacks merely to the position shown by the needle at 23I in Figure 5 of the drawings, and these needles at this position "I will not be elevated 'sufllciently to place the stitches held thereon, beneath the latches thereof, so that the yarn taken by such needles will be merely floated thereon. The cam 33 at the same time will elevate the needles controlled above the Jacks having butts I15 iorelevating those needles to the position shown at 232 in Figure 5 of the drawings, and in which position these needles will take new yarn and will also cast the previous stitches thereon beneath the latches. When cam 34 is thrown-into action and cam 33 is withdrawn, the Jacks having butts I13 will elevate every fourth needle to the height 232 and this same cam thru operation upon the butts I13 will elevate the remaining needles which are normally active during knitting oi the leg to the position shown in 231 where the yarn 'isfloated on the hooks thereof for three courses.

To further describe the sequence or operation with respect to operation of the drum 41,,assuming pin 31 to have Just moved the drum 41 thru operation or the linkage shown, plunger-s 33 and 34 will drop into action and raise alternate needles of the machine which are active during the knitting of the leg; these needles being designated as at 23I and 332 in Figure 5 of thedrawings.

v 0! course every other needle or the setup is III".

tuck stitches are offset coursewise in adjacent wales. as shown in Figure 11 or the drawings.

Referring to the knitting oi the heel of the stocking, it is preferred to provide a stepped high splice section l53.-

Plunger cams 35, 33 and 31 control the knitting of the high splice stepped sections I33, I53. and The cam 35 operates on the jack butts 250 to elevate a section of the needles knitting this high splice stepped section I53. Similarly cams 33 and 31 operate on the jack butts "I and 252 respectively for knitting otthe high Splice steps I33? and I53 respectively. These cams 35, 3B

and 31 are operated by the means described oil of the horizontal striper drum M. While knitting the high splicev oi the stocking, the cams 33 and 34 are of course alternating in the manner above described for knitting the front of the leg of the stocking at this point.

At the start of knitting of the'h'eel at 154-, the

,-point I44".

turns one complete course and knits plain fabric.

The pin "on the "104" wheel then moves the drum 41 permitting the plunger 33 to be pulled out of operation and leaving the plunger-or cam 34 in position. The machine then turns three courses. During the knitting of these three courses the cam 34 is in action. The Jacks having butts I13 will ride up on this cam 34 and elevate the needles 23I to the tucking position.

Of course the lack butts I13 will also rldeon the cam 34 to elevate the needles 233 to the knitting position. This is all in accordance with the description immediately above given, and during the knitting of thesethr'ee courses the fabric shown in Figure 1 of the drawings to regulate all oi. the long .butt needles of the machine. The tuck stitches or the long butt needles of the machine at the front of the stocking are or course held on these long butt needles during reciprocatory action for the knitting of the heel to the For the knitting of the heel it is possible touse the same yarn as used for the knitting oi the leg, but I prefer'to provide another yarn which may be fed from another finger (not shown) at the regular feed station. The cams Ill and III were thrown into action at the same time that the knitting of the-heel starts.

At the finish of the heel, the cam 253 is thrown into action to lower all of the long butt needles to the level of the point or this cam at 2. Those long butt needles which are inactive during knitting o! the tuck or mesh leg should, avoid taking the tuchng yarn. To accomplish this, cam 33 is thrown into action. This cam will engage the dong butts 333 o! the lacks which are used durin is elevated a little higherthan normal, so .as to swing this yarn in a little farther than normally in order to place the. yarnln the hooks of those needles which are elevated by the cam 33, and swing the yarn into a,' floated relatlon back of those needles which were lowered-at point lll but not elevated by com. This cam 33 is knitting oi the heel which are controlled by arrows at 350, the

. selectively elevating walewise arranged floats be accomplished thru selective and cutters may be provided for the yarns at operated oil or thedrum K thru one or the mechanisms [lit-IBG-iliQ-Hli-Hl above described.

It should be mentioned that the only time the hold stitch cam ltd iscut of action is during and toe;

During knitting of the sole I55, the cams 35, 3B

and 31 may be used to-elevate the needles for every needle the jacks of knitting the sole on these cams, and the top of the foot is knitted as above described for producing mesh or tuck knitting. The toe is knitted in conventional manner. In Figure 11, in the courses designated by the yarn is knitted upon alternate needles of the knitting machine, but in these courses 350 every other needle of these alternate needles holds the yarn thereon for the knitting or the next three courses. caught in this stitch are clearly black areas in the courses 350.

It is possible because of the establishment of. main and auxiliary feed stations and cams for the jacks and needles at each or these stations to produce a. stocking having which are relatively indicated by "the wide. This, may

control of the jacks by the cam l2! so that said selected lacks will elevate selected needles to cast ofl the stitches from said needles and thus produce drop stitches. Thus, a fabric can be knitted in which the float portions between adjacent The floats of the yarnsadjacent wales have knitted wales are relatively wide by reason of the beeir formed upon the that suitable binders stitch having previously needles and then dropped.

It is or course understood 'having a plurality from adjacent wales in a tuckin arrangement.

therein, the tuck stitches of adjacent wale line 'one another, and

each or the main and auxiliary feed stations.

knitting machine of this-invention may of course be made to produce various types of fabric, and the method of operating the machine and knitting the fabricmay herein be departed from without departing from the spirit of the invention or the, scope of the claims.

' I claim:

1. In a'iseamless a welt of plain knitted stitches or a predetermined number oi wales; and a leg formed of an appreciably less number or wales than the welt and wherein certain wales are provided with tuck stitches each having float portions from a pluralityof stitches of adjacent wales extended therethru, the adjacent males of the leg having tuck stitches which. are offset with -respect to each other walewise.

2.1:; a seamless knitted stocking the combination of a welt or plain stitch knitting wherein the stitches interknitted and wherein a predetermined number of wales are provided, a mesh type leg comprising'wales of substantially half the number as the welt and wherein the respective wale lines comprise stitches of float portions extending being relatively ofiset'walewise with respect to the individual wale lines each having plain knitted stitches between adjacent tuck stitches incorporated therein.

stocking the combination or 

